Combined switch-stand and signal for railways.



No. 628,282. I Patented July 4, I899.

I H. c. ouznxmx. COMBINED SWITCH STAND AND SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS. v (Application filed May 13, 18 99.) (No M d 8, Sheets-Sheet 1.

Zj'g.l. n n n F1 F1 H H n Fl m: mums PETERS cu, Py'nro-umo WASHINGTON, 0 c4 H. C. ODENKIRK. COMBINED SWITCH STAND AND SIGNAL FDR RAILWAYS.

Patented July 4, I899.

(Application filed Kay 13, 1899,)

3 Sheets8heet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented July 4, I899.

. H. c. DDENKIRK. COMBINED SWITCH STAND AND SIGNAL FDR BAILWAYS.

(Appliation filed May 13, 1899.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS Pings co, Puma-Mme" wAs'nmmoN, u c.

UNITED STATES PAT T OFFICE.

HARRY C. ODENKIRK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

-COMBINED SWITCH-STAND AND SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,282, dated July 4, 1899.

Application filed May 13, 1899. Serial No. 716,761. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY O. ODENKIRK,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Switch- Stand and Signal for Railways; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a combined switchstand and signal for railways; and its primary object is to provide improved mechanism for simultaneously throwing a switch and operating a signal located adjacent thereto.

Further objects of the invention are to provide mechanism of the character above named which may be employed with signals of different heights, known as low, intermediate, and high signals, to thoroughly protect the operative mechanism from exposure to the weather and the accumulation of dirt, and to provide automatic locking devices of improved construction for the switch-lever.

The mechanism for effecting these and such other purposes as may be disclosed hereinafter is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be defined in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the invention in proper relation to a section of railway-track. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved switch-stand and signal devices applied to a low signal or one located upon the switch stand. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. dis a perspective View of my improved form of cam for operating the switchrod and signal. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionon the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing the housing to receive the bar which operates the switch-rod. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the lever-locking devices. Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 1s a side elevation of a slightly-modified construction of the mechanism, showing its application to an intermediate signal; and Fig. 9 is gral boss or washer 16.

a side elevation of a further modification, showing the invention in connection with a high signal.

The reference-numeral 1 designates the switch-rod, which is connected to the switchpoints of a railway in the manner common in this art. The outerend of the rod 1 is loosely connected by a bolt 2 to one end of a bar 3, the opposite end of which extends within a housing 4, depending from the under side of and formed integral with the cylindrical casing of the switch-stand.

lhe casing 5 is formed on opposite sides with integral flanges 6, adapted to be secured by spikes or other means to the railway-ties or other supports. The end of the bar 3 within the casing is formed with a shoulder 7, from which projects a pin 8, constituting the axial support for a roller 9, the outer surface 10 of the latter, as shown in Fig. 3, being of convex form to effectually prevent any binding of the rollerin its'movements, as hereinafter described.

One end of the casing 5 is closed by an integral head ll, formed with a central opening surrounded on the inner surface of the head by an integral boss or washer 12 and on the outer surface of the head by an integral projecting sleeve 13. The other end of the casing is closed by a removable cap 14, formed with a central bearing 15, surrounded on the inner surface of the cap with an inte- The cap 1% is also provided at its lower edge with an integral extension comprising a horizontal plate 17 and depending vertical flanges 18 to constitute a projecting casing or'guard for the bar 3 and the interior of the casing. The peripheral edge of the cap 14 is recessed at the point 19 for the passage of the bar 3, and said cap is provided at suitable points with radial lugs 20, formed with openings to receive threaded pins or screws 21, projecting from the casing, the cap being held in place by-nuts 22, secured upon the pins or screws 21.

WVithin the bearings of easing 5 is mounted a shaft 23, having formed integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto a solid cam 2a. The cam is of peculiar form and constitutes an important feature of my invention.

It is formed with a spiral groove. 25, the walls of which are of such contour as to leave a projection or excess of metal at diametrically opposite points 26, which serve to weight the cam and balance it evenly and also to form reinforced abutments or contact-surfaces for the roller 9, which travels in the groove 25. \Vhile these projecting portions of the walls of the groove do not impede the normal travel of the roller when the latter is moved by the switch throwing lever, as hereinafter described, they do prevent any accidental movement of said roller which might result from the jar of a passing train if the walls of the groove were not of the irregular form shown. The peculiar construction of the cam as just described is shown best in Figs. 3 and 4. The shaft 23 projects beyond the casing at both ends and upon one end thereof is secured the lever 27, the free end of which is provided with a weight 28 and a loop or handle 29. Upon the opposite end of said shaft 23 is secured a crank-arm 30, to the wrist-pin 31 of which is secured one end of a pitman or link 32, the opposite end of said link being secured to a semaphore-arm 33, pivotally secured upon a bracket 34, secured to the upper side of the casing 5 by a bolt 35. Secured to the pivoted end of the semaphorearm 33 is a yoke comprising parallel frames 36 and a connecting-bar 37. The frames 36 are provided with red-colored glass and are arranged to rest one on either side of a lautern supported upon an arm 39, projecting upwardly from the bracket 34 and preferably formed integral therewith.

The semaphore-arm constitutes the daysignal and the colored lights the night-signal, and, as is well understood in this art, the dropping of the colored glass to a position opposite the lantern will show a red light or danger signal on both sides of the stand, while the raising of the yoke carrying the colored glass will cause the lantern to display its white light, indicating safety. The semaphore-arm moves in unison with the yoke and operates in a manner well understood to indicate danger or safety.

On either side of the switch-stand is provided a locking device for the lever 27, each comprising a base 40 and a bifurcated standard 41. One member 42 of the bifurcated standard is formed with a vertical slot 43, communicating with a transverse recess 44 in the lower portion of the standard to accommodate a bell-crank lever 45, fulcrumed upon a cross-pin 46 and having its upper end 47 of hook form, while its lower end is provided with a weight 48, which serves to normally hold the long hooked arm of the lever in vertical position. The upper ends 40 of the standard, as well as the upper surface 50 of the hook 47, are rounded or beveled to facilitate the engagement therewith of the lever 27. The bell-crank lever 45 is tilted to release the lever by raising the weighted end of said lever, which may be done by hand or by means of a lever 51, fulcrumed within the recess of the standard below the bell-crank lever and having its .inner end upwardly turned to engage the bell-crank lever and its outer end formed with a treadle 52, which may be operated readily by the foot when so dcsiredas, for example, when the switchman has a lantern in one hand and requires the other hand to raise the lever 27.

The bell-crank lever 45 is provided at its angle with a perforated lug 53, adapted to receive a padlock 54 or like locking device to prevent the switch-lever from being thrown by an unauthorized person.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The lever 27 is normally in engagement with one of its locking devices, thus securing the switch in either open or closed position, as the case may be. To throw the switch, the lever 27 is disengaged from the locking device and thrown over to engage the other locking device at the opposite side of the stand. This movement of the lever 27 oscillates the shaft 23 and cam 24, and the movement of the cam causes the roller 9 to traverse the groove 25 of the cam, which results in the movement of the bar 3 outwardly or inwardly,(according to the direction in which the lever 27 is thrown,) thus operating the switch-rod 1 to throw the switch. The movement of the shaft 23 at the same time operates the signal through the medium of the crank 30 and link 32. The shoulder 7 on the bar 3 prevents the accidental withdrawal'of said bar from the casing, and, as hereinbefore indicated, the rounded convex surface 10 of the roller 9 insures a free movement of the latter without liability of undue friction or binding.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the construction there illustrated is similar to that shown in the preceding figures, except that the bracket 55 for supporting the semaphore-arm and night signal is extended farther upward to display the signal at a point considerably above the level of the track. In this instance the bracket 50, which supports the signallantern, is removably secured to the bracket 55 by bolts 57 and nuts 58, and the pitman 59 is necessarily lengthened to connect the somaphore-arm with the wrist-pin of the crankarm 30.

Fig. 9 shows the invention applied to what is termed a high signal. In this instance the signal-support 60 is secured to the casing of the switch-stand and extends upwardly a distance, usual in high signals approximately sixteen feet. A ladder G1 is secured at its upper end to the support 60, while its lower end rests upon a ground-support. The ladder 61 is braced by an inclined brace 62, and the signal-lantern 63 is supported upon a bracket-arm 64, secured to the support (30 by bolts 65.

The operation of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is the same as above described in connection with the other figures of the drawings.

I claim- I. In a combined switch-stand and signal for railways, the combination with the switchrod, of a casing, a bar secured at one end to the switch-rod and having its opposite end within the casin g, an oscillating cam supported within the casing, and formed with a spiral groove the walls of which are projected at diametrically opposite points to form abutments for the purpose described; an antifriction-roller supported upon said bar and adapted to the cam-groove, and means for oscillating said cam.

2. In a combined switch-stand and signal, the combination with the switch-rod and operating mechanism therefor, of a casing inclosing said operating mechanism,and formed with a depending channel or housing, and a removable cap for said casing having an extension cooperating with said depending housing to form a protecting-guid eway for the operating-bar.

3. In a combined switch-stand and signal, the combination with the switch-rod, of a sliding bar secured thereto, a easing into which said bar extends; aroller mounted upon the end of the bar Within the casing and having its surface rounded or convex and an oscillating device comprising a cam'formed with a spiral groove forming a trackway for the roller, the Walls of said groove being projected to form an excess of metal at diametrically opposite points, for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a combined switch-stand and signal, the combination with the switch-rod, of a bar secured thereto at one end and carrying an antifriction-roller at its opposite end; a shaft mounted in bearings in the ends of the easing; a solid cam upon said shaft having a spiral groove the walls of which project at diametrically opposite points to form abutments for the purpose described; a crank-arm on one end of said shaft, connected to a signal above the casing; and a lever upon the opposite endof said shaft.

5. In a combined switch-stand and signal for railways, the combination with the switchrod, of a bar secured at one end to said rod, and having its other end provided with an antifriction-roller; a casing into which the bar extends provided with an extension at one end serving as a protector or guard for the interior of the casing and a guide for the bar, and

means within the casing for moving said bar,

and switch-rod, comprising a grooved cam cooperating with the roller on the bar.

6. In a combined switch-stand and signal for railways, the combination with the switchrod and casing, of an oscillating cam within the casing, and a bar secured at one end of the rod and provided at its opposite end which extendswithin the casing, with a stop-shoulder, a pin projecting therefrom, and an antifriction-roller on said pin.

7. In a combined switch-stand and railway signal, the combination with the switch-rod and its operating-bar, of a casing a shaft and an oscillating cam within the casing for moving said bar; a crank-arm on one end of said shaft, a bracket secured to the casing; an arm projecting from said bracket for supporting a lantern; and a signal pivotally secured to said bracket and connected to said crank-arm.

8. In a combined railway switch-stand and signal, the combination with the operatinglever thereof, of a locking device consisting of a base, a bifurcated standard recessed at its lower end having one of its members vertically slotted; a weighted bell-crank lever fulorumed in the recess of the standard and having a hook to engage the lever, and a lever fulcrumed below the bell-crank lever and provided with a treadle.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY O. ODENKIRK. Witnesses:

OLE E. BEN'IZEN, FLORENCE J. BENTZEN. 

